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Research Papers
Can Madurai's dying tanks be revived?
Posted on 19 Mar, 2015 09:34 PMMadurai, Tamil Nadu's second largest city, is now filled with buildings and roads which are eating into its age old network of tanks and canals. This change did not happen overnight. It began in the late 19th century by the British when they merged several hamlets to establish their headquarters in the region.
![A tank on the outskirts of Madurai, Tamil Nadu](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/10425612205_05c2e28e41_z.jpg?itok=W4TFW1Oa)
Slow poisoning of the Harike wetland
Posted on 09 Mar, 2015 09:58 PMKnown as "Hari-ke-Pattan", this wetland is the largest in the Tarn Taran Sahib district of the Punjab in northern India and has the Harike Lake in its deeper part [1]. Its rich biodiversity plays an important role in maintaining the hydrological balance in the catchment area. It also supports a vast range of migratory birds including a number of globally threatened species [1].
![Harike wetland (Source: Wikimedia Commons)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/harike_wetland.jpg?itok=JZDMR3d_)
World's only floating freshwater lake under threat
Posted on 06 Mar, 2015 11:02 PMThe Loktak lake in Manipur is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India. It is famous for the phumdis, which are isolated collections of heterogenous masses of vegetation, soil, and organic matter at various stages of decomposition, floating over it [1]. It is referred to as the only floating lake in the world because of the phumdis [2].
![View of Loktak lake (Source: Wikimedia Commons)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/loktak_lake.jpg?itok=Q_W9fIx2)
Kashmir's lake fisheries are dying a slow death
Posted on 06 Mar, 2015 10:33 PMFisheries form an important component of the economy of Jammu and Kashmir, which along with agriculture, contributes a significant 23% to its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). Besides being an important allied activity to agriculture, it contributes significantly to the agricultural economy and also generates self-employment.
![View of the Wular Lake (Source: Wikimedia Commons)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/wular_lake.jpg?itok=EnTdYRmP)
Coliform contamination and cholera: Deciphering the connection
Posted on 02 Mar, 2015 05:34 PMVibrio cholerae is responsible for 100,000 -120,000 deaths annually, worldwide. [1] Commonly found in ponds, rivers and brackish areas, the bacterium finds its way into humans through contaminated food and water. And the result?
![Water contaminated with plastics and more](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/pond_contaminated.jpg?itok=uBrSU-FE)
Empowered TN fisherfolk challenge urbanisation
Posted on 24 Feb, 2015 11:52 AMRapid urbanisation in various forms is set to transform the coastline of Tamil Nadu as real estate, infrastructure, tourism, and urban beautification plans are in full swing. Fisherfolk, whose everyday life and survival is rooted in the commons, are at the centre of these processes of coastal urbanisation.
![Fishermen launching their boat into the sea](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/fisherfolk_1.jpg?itok=q3nL3Npn)
Family farming as an alternative to tackle hunger and poverty
Posted on 21 Feb, 2015 09:34 PMBy declaring 2014 as the International Year of Family Farming, a lot of attention was focussed on the contribution of small farms, and the role of the families involved in it in eradicating hunger and poverty.
![A farmer couple ploughing their fields](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/farmer_3.jpg?itok=193Auw76)
Climate change threatens Indian mangroves
Posted on 21 Feb, 2015 07:20 PMIndia’s 7500 km coastal line supports nearly 4, 87,100 hectares of mangroves. These unique ecosystems harbour nearly 3985 species of flora and fauna. Due to the increasing effects of climate change, mangrove forests in the country are under serious threat.
What are mangroves?
![Sundarban mangrove (Source: Wikimedia Commons)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/sundarband_mangrove.jpg?itok=2KsdKBo1)
Groundwater resources race against time
Posted on 21 Feb, 2015 12:36 PMThe Himalayas, an important part of the geography of India, extend along the entire Northern and North-Eastern boundary of the country. It spans six Indian States namely, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, West Bengal, Sikkim and a major part of Arunachal Pradesh from west to east.
![A view of the majestic Himalayas](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/himalayas.jpg?itok=YhLuPQSs)
Kerala's groundwater contamination source revealed
Posted on 16 Feb, 2015 09:41 PMOpen wells are one of the most important sources of drinking water, especially in Kerala’s coastal belt. Sadly, recent studies show that as much as 70% of these have been declared unfit due to faecal contamination.
Groundwater quality in Kodiyathur village, Kerala
![A view of an open well](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/img_0836.jpg?itok=42vHXlgl)